Black envelope with a letterpressed invitation card featuring cursive text and a wax seal, surrounded by other black lined envelopes.

How it works

Order process, timings, print and material options and more...

At Elle Bee our aim is to provide a simple, enjoyable and stress-free experience for your wedding invitations and stationery

This guide outlines the ordering process along with a summary of print methods, colours and materials.

We do recognise that there are a lot of options available so if you have any questions or need help, please contact us. You also have the option of booking in for a free, no-obligation consultation if required which you can do here.

When and how to order

Timings can differ from couple to couple but we'd recommend the following as a general rule of thumb. If you're in a pinch then we do offer a paid fast-track service which reduces proofing and production time significantly.

Wedding Dining table setting with a name card on a napkin
When and how to Order
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 1.

Proofing & Production

All orders placed with us receive a comprehensive one-on-one proofing process where your invitations and / or stationery are created digitally for review and, ultimately, approval.

We include three rounds and allocate up to a maximum of 5 business days to each of these rounds.

Once approved and signed off production can begin where a maximum of 3 weeks is allocated to the production process.

Whilst we can't legislate for how long it takes for us to receive responses - from our side the maximum time we should take on an order will be 6 weeks.

Burgundy and white ink save the date cards with custom crest
When and how to Order
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 2.

Save the Dates

  • Typically sent 12-18 months before the wedding
  • Order 2-3 weeks before sending

Typically the simplest part of your wedding stationery journey, save the dates are also often the quickest, requiring minimal proofing revisions and swift production once we reach your position in the queue.

If you're really in a pinch for time then we do offer a digital-only save the date option, alternatively you can just bring the sending of your invitations forward and skip save the dates altogether.

Foiled Wedding invitation set with floral decorations on a light blue background
When and how to Order
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 3.

Invitations

  • Typically sent 6-9 months before the wedding
  • Order 4-6 weeks before sending

Whilst it can fluctuate from couple to couple, the average turnaround time for invitations from end-to-end is around 4 weeks.

Unlike save the dates where information is minimal, invitations can be formed of a lot of pieces, handmade elements, personalised addressing and information, so we'd always advise leaving enough time.

Decorated piano with a fabric sign with romantic phrase on a stand in a room with tables and chairs.
When and how to Order
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 4.

Signage and Stationery

  • Order at least 8 weeks before wedding day

Our goal with on-the-day stationery and signage is to have all proofing work signed off no closer than 3 weeks to the wedding day.

Whilst we suggest leaving an 8-week gap between ordering and the wedding day, there is no reason why you can't order earlier once you're in receipt of your RSVPs. If we end up getting the proofing work done ahead of time we will recommend a pause to ensure we can cover for any late-notice guest changes.

Hot foiled wedding invitation suite in green with custom illustrations
When and how to Order
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 5.

Letterpress & Hot Foiling

Due to the manual nature of the print methods and the requirement for the engraving of plates once design work is signed off, we would recommend adding a further 2 weeks to the suggested timescales noted above if choosing letterpress or hot foiling.

Retail image showing staff handling packaging bag
When and how to Order
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 6.

Fast-Track Service

For those under real time pressures we do offer a fast-track service which expedites both the proofing and production phases of an order.

Reducing timescales and prioritising your order requires us to work outside of our standard hours of operation, so an additional charge is applied:

  • Order value less than £150: Fast-track service not available
  • Order value £150-£300: 50% of order value
  • Order value over £300: 30% of order value

If opting for a fast-track service proofing time will be reduced to 24 hours per round, and production to a maximum of 1 week (digital printing) or 2 weeks (hot foiling or letterpress)

When and how to Order
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 1.

Proofing & Production

All orders placed with us receive a comprehensive one-on-one proofing process where your invitations and / or stationery are created digitally for review and, ultimately, approval.

We include three rounds and allocate up to a maximum of 5 business days to each of these rounds.

Once approved and signed off production can begin where a maximum of 3 weeks is allocated to the production process.

Whilst we can't legislate for how long it takes for us to receive responses - from our side the maximum time we should take on an order will be 6 weeks.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 2.

Save the Dates

  • Typically sent 12-18 months before the wedding
  • Order 2-3 weeks before sending

Typically the simplest part of your wedding stationery journey, save the dates are also often the quickest, requiring minimal proofing revisions and swift production once we reach your position in the queue.

If you're really in a pinch for time then we do offer a digital-only save the date option, alternatively you can just bring the sending of your invitations forward and skip save the dates altogether.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 3.

Invitations

  • Typically sent 6-9 months before the wedding
  • Order 4-6 weeks before sending

Whilst it can fluctuate from couple to couple, the average turnaround time for invitations from end-to-end is around 4 weeks.

Unlike save the dates where information is minimal, invitations can be formed of a lot of pieces, handmade elements, personalised addressing and information, so we'd always advise leaving enough time.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 4.

Signage and Stationery

  • Order at least 8 weeks before wedding day

Our goal with on-the-day stationery and signage is to have all proofing work signed off no closer than 3 weeks to the wedding day.

Whilst we suggest leaving an 8-week gap between ordering and the wedding day, there is no reason why you can't order earlier once you're in receipt of your RSVPs. If we end up getting the proofing work done ahead of time we will recommend a pause to ensure we can cover for any late-notice guest changes.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 5.

Letterpress & Hot Foiling

Due to the manual nature of the print methods and the requirement for the engraving of plates once design work is signed off, we would recommend adding a further 2 weeks to the suggested timescales noted above if choosing letterpress or hot foiling.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 6 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 6.

Fast-Track Service

For those under real time pressures we do offer a fast-track service which expedites both the proofing and production phases of an order.

Reducing timescales and prioritising your order requires us to work outside of our standard hours of operation, so an additional charge is applied:

  • Order value less than £150: Fast-track service not available
  • Order value £150-£300: 50% of order value
  • Order value over £300: 30% of order value

If opting for a fast-track service proofing time will be reduced to 24 hours per round, and production to a maximum of 1 week (digital printing) or 2 weeks (hot foiling or letterpress)

Tablet displaying a customisation interface for wedding stationery via Elle Bee Design website on a light surface.
Order Process
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 1.

1. Place your order

Orders for digitally-printed ("standard") can be made directly through the website using our simple order builder. You'll be guided through each of the options and make selections using the dropdown menus. No wording is collected when placing your order.

If you get stuck then we can create the order for you, just email us and we can get this done for you.

For hot foiling, letterpress and bespoke orders we'll need to create the order for you as there can be a lot more complexity to cover.

We will email you within 24-48 hours of you placing your order with a request for the wording and details required relating to the order you've placed.

Man holding a tablet pen designing
Order Process
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 2.

2. Proofing

Upon receipt of your details we will prepare an initial digital proof for you to review.

We include two revision rounds beyond the initial draft so we can be sure that we've corrected any errors or stylistic adjustments.

All proofing rounds are sent within a maximum of 5 business days of receipt of your wording, details or edits.

At the end of this process we will get you to sign off your proofs ready for production.

Vintage letterpress printing press in a room with boxes and a plant
Order Process
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 3.

3. Production

Once proofs have been approved we will move your order into our production queue to be completed.

The length of time taken can vary dependent on a number of factors, such as the printing method used and how many handmade elements are included. Most orders are completed within 1-2 weeks but allow longer for foiling and letterpress.

Our goal is to complete production within an absolute maximum of 3 weeks.

Packaging boxes on a wooden surface
Order Process
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 4.

4. Delivery or Collection

Upon completion of your order we will check and carefully pack for dispatch or collection.

All orders are sent using a tracked courier service with a 48 hour turnaround time.

If you're local to our Worcestershire studio then you have the option of collecting from us during studio hours.

Order Process
Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 1.

1. Place your order

Orders for digitally-printed ("standard") can be made directly through the website using our simple order builder. You'll be guided through each of the options and make selections using the dropdown menus. No wording is collected when placing your order.

If you get stuck then we can create the order for you, just email us and we can get this done for you.

For hot foiling, letterpress and bespoke orders we'll need to create the order for you as there can be a lot more complexity to cover.

We will email you within 24-48 hours of you placing your order with a request for the wording and details required relating to the order you've placed.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 2.

2. Proofing

Upon receipt of your details we will prepare an initial digital proof for you to review.

We include two revision rounds beyond the initial draft so we can be sure that we've corrected any errors or stylistic adjustments.

All proofing rounds are sent within a maximum of 5 business days of receipt of your wording, details or edits.

At the end of this process we will get you to sign off your proofs ready for production.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 3.

3. Production

Once proofs have been approved we will move your order into our production queue to be completed.

The length of time taken can vary dependent on a number of factors, such as the printing method used and how many handmade elements are included. Most orders are completed within 1-2 weeks but allow longer for foiling and letterpress.

Our goal is to complete production within an absolute maximum of 3 weeks.

Rating of 1 means .
Rating of 4 means .
The rating of this product for "" is 4.

4. Delivery or Collection

Upon completion of your order we will check and carefully pack for dispatch or collection.

All orders are sent using a tracked courier service with a 48 hour turnaround time.

If you're local to our Worcestershire studio then you have the option of collecting from us during studio hours.

Burgundy wedding table setting with printed wedding menus, napkins, glasses and plates

Print Methods

We're proud to print everything in-house, ensuring a seamless end-to-end process incorporating both design and production. Here's a summary of the printing methods available.

Burgundy, Pink and Green Wedding invitation set with floral decorations on a white background

Digital Printing

We run four specialist digital printers in our studio (Wilma and Betty with Goose and Bertha in reserve), all with white ink capabilities. We refer to digital printing as "standard" prnting.

Having white ink enables us to print on any colour of cardstock or paper, which can be especially useful for belly bands and envelope addressing, meaning no ugly labels for coloured envelopes.

This means you get a consistent, high-quality approach no matter the colour of materials you've chosen.

To ensure a precise and sharp print our recommendation is that digital printing is in black or white. For coloured text we'd strongly recommend letterpress printing instead.

Hot foiled wedding invitation on cotton paper with venue illustration

Hot Foiling

Hot foiling is an artisanal, manual printing technique which prints foil into material, leaving a luxury impression.

If you're into foil, be aware that digital foiling and hot foiling are not the same thing (digital foiling is flat, with foil applied over the top of print), only hot foiling will leave that gorgeous luxury impression in your cardstock.

The process for hot foiling requires the engraving of a magnesium plate, this is then placed onto our press (Florence, or Flo for short) and heated to around 100 celsius.

The impression and alignment is manually set to ensure a consistent print, with each piece being printed by hand one at a time.

Hot foiling can either be used on it's own for a piece or, using conventional cardstock, combined with digital printing so that key design elements can be highlighted.

Letterpress Wedding invitation card with wax seal and text on a neutral background

Letterpress

The concept of letterpress printing is similar to hot foiling but instead of foil, we use ink.

Letterpress is the most traditional and luxurious printing method we offer with our press - nicknamed Lawrence - having been first built in 1892.

Ideal for that deep, luxurious impression into cotton stock, letterpress is an in-depth artisanal process from the manual mixing of inks to Pantone shades to impression adjustment and the manual printing of each piece. There's no electrics with Lawrence; it's just Laura, foot pedal power, and skill.

And the end result is incredible - there's a reason that royalty opt for letterpress!

Wedding invitation with hot foiling and floral debossed border
Wedding invitation with embossed monogram and bow detail

Debossing & Embossing

Ideal for borders and decorative elements, debossing (sometimes referred to as blind debossing) makes an impression into material without the presence of ink or foil.

Unlike debossing, embossing raises artwork without the presence of ink or foil.

Particularly effective for monograms and decorative elements, embossing requires two plates (a male and a female) and we use our hot foiling machine to achieve the final result.

We can also emboss the reverse of envelopes for a beautifully sweet detail.

Acrylic Bar menu with UV printed cocktail illustrations on a gold glittery background

UV

Our newest addition is UV printing, a unique method of printing that enables us to print on almost any material up to a depth of 20cm. We've nicknamed this printer "Emo".

Whilst we're using this for a number of applications outside of weddings, having UV enables us to use acrylic without the need for ugly, temporary vinyl.

So whether it's small signage, place cards or photograph mementos from the day, UV is a luxury specialised option.

Print Materials

Quality materials are hugely important to us. Over the years we've refined our selection to ensure that no matter which material you choose, you'll be receiving stationery that uses the highest quality materials which we've extensively vetted and tested.

Stack of white cardstock

Cardstock & Paper

We partner with some of the UK's best manufacturers for our cardstock and paper. This is used for digital printing and foil press in a wide range of colours.

For foiling we also offer cardstock in a heavier weight.

White cotton cardstock sheet on a white background

Cotton

Eco-friendly and perfect for a deep impression with hot foiling or letterpress, cotton enables a crisp, legible print and is beautifully unique and tactile.

Cotton cardstock is in white / off-white only.

Torn edge cotton wedding stationery paper

Handmade

Made out of cotton with a natural torn edge, handmade paper is a unique, delicate option for your stationery.

We use white handmade paper for both foil press and letterpress as a custom order only.

Chart detailing printing options and material compatibility with black and white design.

Cardstock & Paper Colours

Below are the current shades of cardstock and paper colours that have been hand-picked and extensively tested.

Depending on the shade, these colours are used for invitation and stationery pieces, pocketfolds and wallets, handmade envelopes, envelope liners and belly bands.

Fine White

Cardstock: 324gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: N/A
Envelopes & Paper: N/A

Pristine White

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Pale Grey

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Real Grey

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Smoke

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Ebony

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Vellum White

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Mist

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Natural Ivory

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Biscuit

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 120gsm

Cashmere

Cardstock: 350gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 350gsm
Envelopes: N/A
Paper: 120gsm

Fox

Cardstock: Not Available
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Blush

Cardstock: 350gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 120gsm

Nude

Cardstock: 350gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 290gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 140gsm

Old Rose

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 120gsm

Rosebud

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 120gsm

Carmine

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 120gsm

Claret

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Cool Blue

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Azure

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Steel

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: N/A

New Blue

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Sapphire

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Imperial Blue

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Litchen

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: N/A

Mid Green

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Sequoia

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 120gsm

Regal Teal

Cardstock: 300gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 300gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 120gsm

Forest

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Racing Green

Cardstock: 350gsm / 540gsm
Pocketfolds & Wallets: 270gsm
Envelopes & Paper: 135gsm

Foil and Letterpress Ink Colours

Below are our standard foil colours and letterpress ink colours. Other foil colours are available upon request and, using Pantone as a reference, we can mix letterpress ink colours to match a required shade.

When using digital printing we recommend black or white ink to ensure a precise and accurate print. For coloured text, letterpress printing is highly recommended.

Stylised ball showing gold foiling colour
Gold
Stylised ball showing silver foiling colour
Silver
Stylised ball showing rose gold foiling colour
Rose Gold
Stylised ball showing copper foiling colour
Copper
Black
Dove Grey
Terracotta
Champagne
Rose
Burgundy
Navy
Dusky Blue
Teal
Forest Green
Garden Green
Sage

Wax Seals

Handmade in our Worcestershire studio and provided self-adhesive for easy use, we offer a variety of wax colours as shown below. You can choose from a decorative unpersonalised design, or a personalised engraved monogram.

Bronze wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Crema
Copper wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Antique Copper
Pink wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Blush
Dark gold wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Antique Gold
Light gold wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Prosecco
Pale pink wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Champagne
White wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
White
Ivory wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Buttercream
Silver wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Silver
Burgundy wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Mulberry
Dark pink wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Vintage Rose
Pink wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Dusty Rose
Pale pink wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Peony Pink
Lavender wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Lavender
Neutral wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Clay
Black wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Black
Dark grey wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Carbon
Sage green wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Thyme
Neutral wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Linen
Dark green wax seal for wedding shown plain without design
Sitka
Sequoia green wax seal for wedding
Sequoia
Navy blue wax seal for wedding
Navy Blue
Dusky blue wax seal for wedding
Dusty Blue
Pale blue wax seal for wedding
Baby Blue

Wax Seal Designs - House Designs & Personalised Monograms

Gold wedding wax seal with symmetrical abstract pattern design
Baroque
Gold wax seal showing tree foliage design
Canopy
Gold wedding wax seal with two daisy design
Daisy
Gold wax seal with single eucalyptus sprig
Eucalyptus
Wax seal for wedding in gold with single fern design
Fern
Gold wedding wax seal with fleur-de-lis design
Fleur-de-Lis
Gold wedding wax seal with single foliage sprig design
Foliage
Gold wedding wax seal with floral artwork
Garden
Gold wax seal with holly artwork design
Holly
Gold wedding wax seal with lily artwork design
Lily
Gold wax seal with palm tree artwork design
Palm
Gold wax seal with single rose artwork design
Rose
Gold wax seal with snowdrop artwork design
Snowdrop
Gold wedding wax seal with "with love" text and small hearts
With Love
Gold wax seal with wreath design
Wreath
Gold wax seal with a&j monogram
Alice
Gold wax seal with G&M monogram
Bond Street
Gold wax seal with E&M monogram
Eloise
Gold wax seal with LS monogram
Finsbury
Gold wax seal with FM stylised monogram
Freya
Gold wax seal with HM monogram
Hannah
Floral gold wax seal with HB monogram
Harriet
Gold wax seal with calligraphy LR monogram
Henley
Stylised gold wax seal with JM monogram
Newbury
Gold wax seal with SJ monogram
Sophia

Fine Art Vellum Jackets & Envelope Liners

Depicting gorgeous watercolour florals and landscapes, fine art vellum jackets and envelope liners add a layer of artisanal luxury to your invitations.

We can also incorporate custom venue illustrations to both of these options or, if you prefer, you can opt for plain unprinted vellum or plain coloured liners.

Printed vellum jacket with a scenic landscape of trees and a path, featuring an envelope on the right.
Abigail
Printed vellum jacket and envelope liner with beige roses and greenery on a white background
Alice
Floral Printed vellum jacket with matching envelope featuring blue and beige flowers.
Charlotte
Scenic Printed vellum jacket with mountains, trees, and a lake, featuring an open envelope view.
Elizabeth
Floral patterned Printed vellum jacket and envelope set on a white background
Eloise
Printed vellum jacket in a Floral arrangement in a vase with an open envelope revealing more flowers, all set against a soft, blurred background.
Freya
Printed vellum jacket with a scenic landscape of a pond and flowers, featuring an envelope.
Hannah
Printed vellum jacket with autumn landscape and envelope featuring a lake and trees.
Harriet
Printed vellum jacket with nature scene and matching envelope
Heather
Floral design on Printed vellum jacket with an envelope, featuring blue, pink, and white flowers.
Lara
Printed vellum jacket with matching envelope on a white background
Riya
Printed vellum jacket with envelope featuring a collage of flowers in pink, white, and gold.
Sophia
Printed vellum jacket with nature scene and matching envelope
Victoria
Floral patterned vellum with a matching envelope on a white background
Violetta